Learn from Great Arts Teachers

Fiber arts has been a life-long passion. When I was only 14 years old, I took fiber classes at my local Art Museum. Imagine my surprise when some of my pieces were displayed in the museum store! I was smitten. Though I was never without fiber work in one form or another, I didn’t find my way to knitting until 2000.

Liz Spear brings nearly five decades of experience to this series. As a master weaver, wet-felter, and designer, she crafts over 80 unique garments annually for craft fairs, galleries, and conferences. A skilled teacher and mentor, Liz shares her expertise in fabric and garment construction, pattern development, and sustainable practices, including reworking and repurposing…

Sheryl Kessler attended the University of the Arts and graduated from Philadelphia University (Jefferson University). She has taught privately and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Continuing Education program. Sheryl has been working with textiles since 1984 beginning with machine knitting.

Alesia started her fiber odyssey over two decades ago with a couple of sheep and a passion to learn more. The sheep patiently taught her much about life, farming and fiber! She now lives on a small farm in Youngsville, NC with her husband and son and together they shepherd a very eclectic flock of award-winning sheep.

Lily Hope (b. 1980) was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska to full-time artists. She is Tlingit Indian, of the Raven moiety. Following her matrilineal line, she’s of her grandmother’s clan, the T’akdeintaan. She learned Ravenstail weaving from her late mother Clarissa Rizal, and Kay Field Parker, both of Juneau.

Heather Storta has been passionate about knitting from her first lesson in 2003. As a devoted lifelong learner, the minute she learned about TKGA and the Master Knitter program, she signed up. She became a TKGA-Certified Master Knitter in 2014 and was immediately asked to serve on the MHK Committee.

Miss Erin has trained with the best teachers and programs in the Boston area. She has cheered for professional sports teams and danced with several New England based companies in ballet and Latin dance. She has taught and coached thousands of students in dance and cheer throughout her 20+ year career.

J. Warren Berry currently lives near Raleigh, NC and has been a teacher and photographer for over 20 years. His training as a teacher was at Elon University. As a photographer, he trained under the nationally known photographer Don McGowan. Currently, he teaches virtually, in-person private lessons, and at folk schools teaching how to use both DSLR cameras and iPhones.

Lynette (Lyn) Ford, an American storyteller, teaching artist, author and creative narrative workshop presenter was the first storyteller in the state of Ohio to be nominated for a Governor's Award for the Arts. She is a regular performer at regional and national storytelling festivals and conferences, including the National Storytelling Festival, Hawaii's Talk Story Festival and…

Cindy Irwin has been hooking rugs since 1983. She is a certified McGown teacher, holds classes in her home, studio, and is a traveling teacher. She is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and in Rug Hooking Magazines' Celebration of Fame. Cindy is well known among her students for embellishing rugs with gemstones and hooking with mixed media.